Ev’s sky blue thinking

JONNY VISION

VISION: What Evans would look like in a City shirt

EVANS has allowed himself to imagine what it would be like to pull on the sky blue colours of Manchester City.

The Northern Ireland defender was wanted by City, Arsenal and Leicester in the last transfer window but, with West Brom holding out for £30million, no deal could be agreed.

Etihad boss Pep Guardiola, though, may be tempted to return for the former Manchester United star in January.

Evans – on international duty with Michael O’Neill’s side, who play Norway in a World Cup qualifier tonight – insists he was not affected by the speculation but admitted he is a big admirer of how Premier League table-toppers City play.

Asked if he thought about what it would be like to play under Guardiola in a blue shirt, Evans said: “If I watch games in the Champions League, I watch how teams play and try and imagine how you’d fit in.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Man City, you always analyse the big teams and how things are done and why things work.

“I’ve played against City this year and obviously they were an amazing team. They made a few changes in terms of personnel but the way they pass and move the ball is amazing.”

The saga over the future of Evans, 29, went on until the last moments of the summer transfer window.

And he feels it is a welcome move for players that the Premier League window will now shut before the season begins.

“I think it is good from our perspective and maybe from a club’s perspective as well,” he said.

“I don’t know how the clubs are going to deal with it because of the European window, but I’m sure they will prepare because the majority voted for it.”

Two years ago, Evans completed a shock move from United to West Brom after more than a decade of loyal service at Old Trafford.

Some outsiders felt he should have stayed and fought for his first-team place which he lost under Louis van Gaal.

United now look like genuine title contenders under Jose Mourinho but Evans claims he has no regrets about leaving, pointing out that it has been a good move for his career.

He said: “It was taking a step back in terms of the size of the club and all that, but in terms of my own career I thought it was a step in a direction I felt I needed to take in terms of progressing myself.

“It’s hard to say whether it was the right decision or not. A lot of people might say, ‘You shouldn’t have left or done this or that’.

“At that time it was the right thing for me to do and in my mind I’m glad I made that decision because I’m in a place where I’m enjoying my football and playing week in, week out and I can feel the benefits of that.

“I’m enjoying it at West Bromwich Albion and think it’s straightforward for me. I just go out and play football.

“Anytime anyone brings up transfer windows I just dismiss it and move on.”